LESSONS FOR BIBLE CLASSES.
By G. H. Bell
LESSON IX.—THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL VIII.
1. Is the little horn of Dan. 8 identical with the little horn of Dan. 7? 2. What does the little horn of the seventh chapter symbolize? 3. What does that of the eighth chapter represent? 4. In the second chapter, what universal kingdom was represented as following the Grecian kingdom? 5. What in the vision of the seventh chapter? 6. Does the little horn of the eighth chapter represent a universal kingdom? 8. What is the only universal kingdom that has succeeded Grecia? 9. How is the power denoted by the little horn of Dan. 8 spoken of in the 23d verse? 10. How did the Roman soldiers fulfill this prediction? 12. Do all admit that this passage refers to the Romans? 14. Where did Rome extend her conquests? 15. What is said of the little horn in this respect? Dan. 8:9. 16. How did pagan Rome treat other nations in its tours of conquest? 17. What is said of the destructive character of the little horn? Dan. 8:24. 18. How has Rome treated the people of God? 19. What was the little horn to do? Verse 24. 21. Against whom was the little horn to stand up? Verse 25. 22. How was this power to be destroyed? Verse 25. 23. How were the feet of the image to be destroyed? Dan. 2:34. 24. What did the feet of the image denote? 25. Then what must the little horn of Dan. 8 denote? The little horn of Dan. 8 is not identical with that of Dan. 7. The little horn of the seventh chapter symbolizes the papacy alone, or Rome under Papal control. The little horn of the eighth chapter represents Rome under both pagan and Papal rule; some of the acts attributed to it having reference to pagan Rome, and some to the papacy. That Rome is the kingdom represented by this symbol appears from the following considerations:— 1. It represents a power that is to hold sway next after Grecia, and we have seen from both the other lines of prophecy that Rome was to follow Grecia in the dominion of the world. 2. It is represented as greater than either of the kingdoms that preceded it, and this could not be true of any kingdom but Rome. 3. In verse 23 this power is spoken of as a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences. The Roman soldiers were fierce in battle, and spoke a language that the Jews could not understand. Similar words are used by Moses when he is, as all agree, describing the Romans. Read Deut. 28:49, 50. 4. It was to wax exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. This was true of Rome, for she extended her conquests into Africa on the south, and into Asia on the east; she also subdued Palestine, the pleasant land. 5. It was to destroy wonderfully. No power has ever destroyed the nations as did pagan Rome in its tours of conquest, in one of which eight hundred cities were taken and a million of men slain. 6. It was to destroy the mighty and holy people. Pagan Rome persecuted the people of God, but papal Rome has destroyed millions upon millions of them, employing the most lingering torments and the most cruel tortures that were ever invented. 8. It was to be broken without hands. In the second chapter it was said that a stone cut out without hands smote the image on the feet,—Rome. Other points might be noticed, for Rome has fulfilled the prophecy in every particular.